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The number of Californians newly signed up for health insurance through Covered California, the state’s insurance marketplace created under the Affordable Care Act, dropped 3 percent compared with last year, according to enrollment figures released by Covered California on Monday. About 412,000 people signed up for health plans through the exchange during the open enrollment period for 2017, compared with 425,000 who signed up during open enrollment last year. The falloff comes amid a national decline in enrollment in health plans through Healthcare.gov, the federal insurance marketplace used in several dozen states but not California, which fell for the first time, according to figures released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday. (Ho, 2/6)

Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s marketplace for insurance plans sold under the Affordable Care Act, on Monday reported a record number of sign-ups during the just-ended open-enrollment period. For the open-enrollment period that officially closed on Friday, Connect for Health Colorado announced that 175,964 people picked a health or dental plan on the exchange. That’s a 12 percent increase over the same time last year, when more than 150,000 people had selected a plan. (Ingold, 2/6)

Amid the January rumbling toward the start of the Trump administration, the Ohio Medicaid Department dropped its annual assessment with some startling information: The report found that since the health program was expanded under the Affordable Care Act, the rate of uninsured Ohioans has dropped to the lowest rate ever. Plus, Ohioans who became eligible for health care coverage through the Medicaid expansion reported that it was easier for them to keep or find work. Most people also reported better health and financial security as a result of obtaining coverage. (Saker, 2/7)

Time is running out for Minnesotans who want to buy 2017 health insurance on the individual market. Unlimited enrollment expires at midnight Wednesday, Feb. 8. After that, people can buy insurance only if they have a special situation, such as losing their old insurance or having a baby. Wednesday’s deadline is one week later than the original deadline, Jan. 31. It was extended to give Minnesotans more time to react to premium subsidies passed by the Legislature in late January. (Montgomery, 2/6)

Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis held a town hall Saturday, to hear ideas about replacing the Affordable Care Act. But he was met with opposition as about every one of the 200 people gathered at The Centre of Palm Harbor were in support of Obamacare. Many came to voice their concerns with the law's potential repeal. One activist held a cardboard cutout of the Statue of Liberty. A few people held signs that read "Obamacare Saves Lives" and others had handmade signs that advocated for the retention of the ACA. (Walters, 2/6)